Machine for tumiteling rocks



UNITED sTATEs PATENT CHS. WILSON, OF SBRINGFIELD,`MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR TUNNLING ROCKS, 8m.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES WILSON, of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented, made, and applied to use certain new and -useful Improvements in Machinery for Boring or Excavating Holes or Tunnels in Rocks or other Substances; and I do hereby declare. that the following is a full, clear,fand exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being-hadto thev annexed drawings, making part 'of this specification, wherein- Figure l, is a side elevation-ofthe apparatus complete except the cutters which are removed to avoid complexity. fFig. 2, isa

, vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3, is a plan of the apparatus complete,except,that only two cutters-are shown in place. Fig. 4, is a cross section at the line A, A,and Fig. 5, is a representation offthe end ofthe tunnel or hole showing the `manner in which the cutters leave the face ofthe stone. Fig. 6, is a sectionof the conical cutter wheel and one cutter in place in large size. Fig. 7, is a view at right angles to the conical surfaces receiving the cutter stock. Fig. 8, ais a side view and Fig. 9, a plan of the cutterfstocks.

The same marks of referencedenote similar parts.

The nature of my said invention consists in so arranging constructingand fitting the parts of a revolving cutter wheel made use of in said machine that the cutters are' gradually forced forward with a very-slow motion while a wheel carrying rolling disks or cutters receives a compound motion, the one motion a revolution on its own shaft, which shaft is at right angles to the axis o'f the tunnelor hole being bored,and the other motion a gradual rotation of said cut-ter wheel and parts carrying the same on the line of the axis or general direction of said tunnel. These two motions in addition yto the very slow forward feeding motion `produced, by the rolling cutters, a gradual removal of the rock or other substance at the semispherical end -of the tunnel or hole, similar to the operation of a double semicircular cutting edge of an auger. The speed and proportioning of the parts must be according tothe size of the tunnel and the character of the material operated on and the number of cutters, but for the purpose of illustration we mightsuppose thatfor every revolution ofthe cutterwheel Yonits Specicaton of Letters PatentNo. 14,483, dated March 18, `1856.

axis said axis was turned .so as to produce about two inches motion at 'fthe Vcircumference of Asaid tunnel, or so thateach l successive cuttershall act on the :stone at the circumference of the -tunnel about i3@ of an inch in advanceof theprecedingcutter,'and at the same ,time ythe cutter :wheel .-is gradually ffed forward producing `a gradual spiral or helical cut.

In the drawing a section of the :rock or other substance being bored-to .formgthe tunnel is shown at B, vB, and Within this "tunnel `the .machine is sustained by means of -screwssetting -against the sides; but on commencing fto bore a tunnel the machinemust be sustained vby a suitable vframework :or within kthe approaches to the tunnel V`until the machine has penetrated -lsuiiciently to be braced against the rock.

a, a, are triangular -frames fitted fwith jack screws and :bearinggblocksl-b, [2,wl1ich are Vto be `screwed up 'untilthe axis ofthe machine is -slightlyfelevatedabove thevcenter line ofthe tunnel, andthenfthe screws c,.o, areztofbe Aforced against the-top part of the tunnel :until .the machine is brought axially wit-hfthe same ,this tightens 'the screws b, Tb, and then 4on `screwing -up the screws c, c, ,which are attached Aat "l, 1y-,to the frames a, the said frames a,a,.and parts `attached are effectually prevented from turning within the tunnel, and to resist pressure--endwiseof the machine I make use of jack screwsac, see lfFig..3, taking against plates or-sills olf, running lengthwise of rthe tunnel -and forcing them against the sides. Theinner ends of these -jack screws- @,kc, are connected .to a cylinder d, and that is -also connected -permanentlyato the forwardftriangularframe a, and jack screws, and ,'Sai'd :cylinder d, Carries -within it the second cylinder f, that is fitted'with one'or'more feathers, =(see;Fig. 4) sothat it can only have an endwise sliding motion Vwithin `the cylinder d, and within this second cylinder-ff, is agthird cylinder g, so Vfitted that it can rturnwithin f the cylinder f, but fthis cylinder fyisQOIlfined tofthecylinder g, by a collar lat eachend, so'that'the two `must :slide 'back and forth together .within Ythe Ycylinder d. (Dn the endof ,this cylinder or hollow shaft,- g, I c astor otherwise attach by means of arms ythe -main drum or boring head YC, moved and facting as ,hereafter described. The l cylinder d, is extended back by straps `olzside YApieces .and connected to -the ,rear liii-rizmgular :frame a,

iodo

and set of jack screws by the block L, and through this block the main center shaft l1, passes; the said shaft is to be driven by a wheel 2, or other suitable connection to competent motive power the same not being here shown, as this forms no part of the present invention. This shaft h, passes the length of the hollow shaft g and enters the drum C, where it is fitted with a gear wheel 3, and as this shaft 7L, slides through the wheel 2, as the machine progresses the motive power is communicated by a feather and slot or other suitable means to said shaft it. The wheel 3, gears to a second wheel 4, on a shaft 5, set in bearings within the drum C, and 6, is a miter pinion taking a miter wheel 7, formed a ring and attachedV to the double conical cutter wheel D, set and rotating on the shaft h2, mounted in journal boxes on the drum C. This cutter wheel D, is made as hereafter set forth and is revolved at the required speed proportioned to that'of the other parts by the gearing aforesaid, and to prevent the dust or chips from the rock getting into the gearing inclose the same by a casing of sheet metal as at 8, 8, which is attached to the inside of the drum C.

At or near the back end of the shaft L, a. Wheel 9 is fitted, gearing to a wheel 10, on the auxiliary shaft c', and a strap around these shafts keep the gears together, and the inner end of this shaftz', is secured by and turns in a journal box in the arm 15, projecting from the cylinder j", through a slot 16 in the cylinder cl, and this arm 15, and a similar one on the other side carry the cross shaft a, geared to the auxiliary shaft z', by miter gears 11, and 12, andfitted with worm pinions 13, 13, driving wheels 14, 14, on the short longitudinal shafts 7c, 7c. These shafts 7s, 7c, are set in journal boxes in the arms 15, and the aforesaid end pass through boxes on the cross head Z, that is formed with and on the end of the shaft f and these shafts 7c, la, are'fitted with pinions 1S, on their ends acting on gears 17 placed within the end of the main drum C. Y n, is a strong hollow screw around the shaft 7L, and retained at one end within the Y block 7L" b a 0roove around near its end and 3 53 t keys entering the same and a nut formed around the inner side of the hollow shaft g takes the threads of this screw.

It being premised that the cutter wheel D, by its rotationremoves the rock in a semi-spherical surface at the end of the tunnel by cutters hereafter described, the motions and operations thus far are as follows:

The cylinder ,being Vimmovably xed by the jack screws before detailed, the second cylindericannot turn therein on account of its feathers .before mentioned but simply slide out therefrom endwise, carrying with it the cross head Z arms 15, shafts lo, 77, z', and

z, and also the drum C, shaftg and parts attached moving forward simultaneously. As the cutter wheel D, is now rotated on its axis the drum C, and shaft g through the worm pinions and gear 11, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 17, and 18, 18, are slowly rotated causing the cutter wheel to act in its semi-spherical end in a series o-f nearly radial lines relatively with the axis of the tunnel, and if the screw n, were stationary the whole of the parts would be pressed forward out of the cylinder cl, the extent of the pitch of the screw thread each revolution of the drum C, feeding the cutting wheel forward to that extent; but as this is sometimes too slow cutting and sometimes too fast when the rock is very hard I take a motion by suitable gearing from the auxiliary shaft z', to turn said screw n, in either direction according as want to feed forward fast or slow.

20, is a worm pinion driven by a feather or key and slot in the shaft z', and confined in its place by the supports 21, of the shaft. m, is a wheel with a second worm 22, to a wheel 23, on the screw n; by this means the screw n, can be rotated in either direction according to the twist of the worm pinion 22, which for this purpose as well as speeding the parts by the pitch of the worm pinion may be made changeable; and when the shaft g and parts moving therewith have been projected out of the cylinder CZ, nearly the length of the screw n, the motion of the same is to be reversed by hand or otherwise so as to draw the parts again backy within the cylinder a?, the jack screws are to be loosened and the whole apparatus set forward the required amount and then again screwed tight into place to act as before, and for the purpose of facilitating this operationa suitable carriage or rollers may be used on which to move the apparatus forward.

Any dust or chips falling into the drum C, are passed out through openings 19, and all the dust chips, &c., are passed back of said drum C, by means of screw formed flanches Z, from which point the same may be shoveled away or removed by any suitable apparatus.

Having thus described the construction and operation of the machine as a whole, I will now describe the construction and oper ation of the cutters and wheel carrying the same. rIhe double conical cutter wheel D, which is rotated as before detailed is composed of a series of alternate tapering planes 0, 0, set at an angle of 45 or nearly so .with the center of the shaft 71,2 and these planes are castor attached together at their point of crossing the opposite planes, and the narrower ends are formed with the conical hubs 0, aroundA the shaft h2, so that the general form of this cutter wheel is that of two cones united at their bases, and the shaft passing through the apexes. The number of these alternate tapering planes may be varied according to the size of the machine, the drawing representing sixteen, eight taper toward each end of t-he shaft h2, and on each of these planes a stock p is mounted carrying a rolling cutter or disk E.

24, 24, are blocks or ribs forming slides on the planes o, within which the stocks p, p, are secured by bolts 25 and 26, passing through the planes o, 0, through slots in the said stocks p, and through clamping straps above said stocks, so that upon slackening said bolts 25 and 26 each of the stocks j), can be slid out the required distance to compensate for the diameter of the cutter Z),

becoming less by wear, and this stock is adjusted and retained in its proper position by a bolt 27, furnished at one end with a head and holes by which it is turned and also collars setting on each side of a cap or box screwed into the stock p,- the other end of said bolt 27 passes through a nut 28, in a block attached to or formed with the conical ends 0, of the cutter wheel. Each cutter and stock is thus fitted so that the stocks are slid out as the cutters wear in order to bring them precisely into line and then on screwing up the bolts 25 and 26, the stocks are firmly secured in place.

Each of the cutters (t) is formed as a concave or shorthollow truncated cone in the center of which is an opening setting around a groove in the sleeve or hollo-w shaft s, and a bolt r, having a large head inside the dishing part of the cutter and fitted with a nut 33, on its other end, clamps the cutter t, firmly to the flaring end of said hollow shaft s, and gives facility for removing the cutter t, when worn o-ut. Around this shaft s, I place a hollow shell or cylinder g, lined with suitable antifriction composition and provided with packings as at 32, to exclude dust and dirt; and to secure the shaft s, into this cylinder j, and allo-w its free rotation I first slip over the inner end a plain metallic washer u- (Fig. 13). I then slip over a second washer fu, (Fig. 12) that is made with lugs or feathers entering grooves in the sides of the shaft s, the plain nut w, (Fig. 11,) is then screwed on and followed by the nut m (Fig. 10) and the two screwed up as tight as possible by a wrench y, (Fig. 14,) the nut w, being moved by a pin inserted through notches in the wrench and nut as at e. This brings the parts to their correct bearing the nuts are then slightly loosened to allow the shaft s to turn freely, the pin at e, is then withdrawn and the nut m, set up against the nut lw, which effectually prevents any of the parts working loose. Two sets of cutters thus formed are provided for each machine, so that one set may be ground sharp by mounting each cutter and cylinder g, in a lathe and rotating the same against any suitable grinding surface. The other set of critters are to be used in the machine, the meantime; and in order to attach the cutters in the machine the cylinder part g, has simply to be dropped into the socket 29 of the stock j?, and the set screw 30, adjusted to prevent the cylinder g, dropping down too far into the socket 29, and by adjusting the screws 27 and 30, the cutting edge of the disk t, is brought to the exact position by any suitable gage, the screws 25 and 26, are then tightened up asl before mentioned and a strap 31, passing into a mortise through the side of the socket 29, and fitted with nuts on the ends as shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 is tightened up, which binds the cylinder g, firmly into the socket.

On referenceto Figs. 5, and 6, it will be seen by the red lines that in the rotation of the cutter wheel the sets of cutters actslightly on opposite sides of the axis of the tunnel, and in'cutting one set of cutters commence to act from the circumference of the tunnel toward the center, and the other set standing the opposite way commence at the center on the opposite side of a small project-ion left in the rock, and cut out toward the circumference see arrows Fig. 5, and in consequence of the forward motion of the machine and the rotation of the drum C, carrying also y.the cutter wheel, the stone presents the appearance in the concave end of two offsets where the cutters act, joined by a compound curved incline from the top of one offset to the bottom of the next, and the action of the machine is similar to a double lipped round-ended auger or boring tool. It will be understood that the small projection in the center of the tunnel is broken off successively by the back of the cutters, in Fig. 6, and that it is necessary for the cuts from the cutters set in opposite directions to slightly lap over each other in order that space may be left sufficient for the back of the cutters set in one direction to pass clear of the off set on which the other cutters are acting.

When one set of cutters becomes dull by use as before mentioned they are to be taken out of their respective sockets 29, together with the cylinders g, and cutters with sharp disks Z, substituted; and by the construction of the sockets 29, oil or grease can be placed in the inner end which will gradually work through between the shafts s, and cylinder g, or holes may be provided in this cylinder r/ for passing in oil or grease, and at the same time dirt is entirely excluded from the I moving parts.

I do not herein claim a revolving or roll,-

used for a variety of purposes, but I am not aware that a concave or short hollow truncated conical cutter for cutting vstone or ing cutter in itself as this has before been Y similar material has ever before been made use of, thereby I am enabled to use so much thinnerl steel than if the cutter were a fiat disk because the slight conical or dishing form stiffens and strengthens the cutter so very much, and therefore said cutters are of less cost and require less material ground away to keep them sharp and also allowing of the head holding the same being within the cutter so that the head will not touch the rock even when t-he cutters are worn away almost as small as said head, and the cutting edge also will remove the stone on either side of the cutter thereby providing for cutting off the center core of the tunnel. I am also aware that cutters have been set on arms or wheels to cut by an alternating or semi rotary or reciprocating motion therefore I do` not claim the same, neither do I claim a continuously revolving cutter wheel in itself but I am not aware of any machine having heretofore been constructed with a continuously revolving cutter'wheel having cutters attached thereto at an angle of 45 or nearly so with the shaft of the cutter wheel, and alternately in opposite directions and acting in the semispherical end of the tunnel with a continuous cut on two offsets as set forth, thereby I have a continuous motion and avoid the loss of power by any alternate motion consequent in over coming the inertia of the ponderous apparatus. I am also aware that rolling cutters have been adjusted by screws therefore I do not claim the same. Neither do I claim the compound feeding motion in itself as this is well known, my invention simply relating the peculiar cutter wheel and its action when receiving this compound motion.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The circular cutter formed as a short hollow truncated cone for acting on stone or other material substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. I claim a continuously revolving wheel provided with circular rolling disks or cutters, the axis of which cutters stand alternately in opposite directions or nearly at an angle of 4:50 with the shaft of said cutter wheel, thereby acting to excavate the rock or other material substantially as specified.

3. I claim the arrangement of the alternating inclined tapering planes 0, 0, and stocks Q9, for the purpose of sustaining and adjusting the alternate rolling cutters as specified.

4. I claim the construction of the shaft s, cylinder g, and parts attached when used in connection with the socket 29, set screw 30, and binding strap 31, for the purposes and as specified.

5. I claim the general arrangement of the cylinder and shafts d, f, g, h, z', c, and 7c, 7c, and gearing attached for rotating the drum C, and pressing the same forward in the manner and substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this thirty-first day of J anuary 1856.

CHARLES WILSON. itnesses LEMUEL 7. SERRELL, THOMAS G. HAROLD. 

